EPT London Day 2: Mantas Visockis Leads Tight Race

The money bubble will burst today at the European Poker Tour (EPT) London Main Event as just 113 players remain in the field after Day 2. Only 17 players need to be eliminated on Day 3 for the remaining players to cash for at least £8,000. It’s a fairly tight race at the top of the leader board as Lithuania’s Mantas Visockis holds the number one spot with 522,200 chips. Estonia’s Matthias Tikerpe is right behind him with 507,600, while American Steven Silverman has 480,300.

Online nose bleed stakes superstar and member of Full Tilt’s “Professionals” Viktor “Isildur1” Blom was actually the chip leader with two hours to go. He got there thanks to a huge hand started by Paul Berende, who raised pre-flop to 4,200. Manfred Sierke called, Blom re-raised to 15,600, Berende four-bet to 34,200, and Sierke folded. After some though, Blom called and the two saw the flop of 4♦-5♦-7♥. Blom checked, Berende bet 30,000, and once again, Blom pondered his move. That move: an all-in which Berende quickly called. Blom held 7♠-8♠, good for top pair and a gut-shot draw, while Berende was in fine shape with pocket Kings. The turn was the T♣, which was of no help to Blom, but the river brought the 6♣ and the lucky straight for Blom. That 337,000 chip pot took Blom’s stack up to 560,000 and vaulted him into the chip lead.

Blom took a big hit late, though, watching his pocket Queens fall to Nick Abou Risk’s A-K. Going into Day 3, Blom is still doing fine, holding 229,200 chips. Our current chip leader, at the same time, made his move late, also beating pocket Queens with his own pocket Aces.

Mantas Visockis has a limited live tournament resume, having won just $23,048 in his career (though wouldn’t most of us be happy with that?). His biggest cash was for €4,600 ($6,208) for placing second in a €500 event at the 2011 European Masters of Poker III.